Terminal for pneumatic-dispatch systems



y 1, 1930. l J. T. COWLEY 1,769,676

TERMINAL FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS Filed May 2, 1928 3 Sheecs-Sheetl July 1, 1930. COWLEY 1,769,676

TERMINAL FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS Filed May 2, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet2 Z'nvanior James Z7 C oa/Zcy July 1, 1930. I I TKCQWLEY 1,769,676

TERMINAL FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS.

Filed May 2, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 atented July I, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE JAMES '1'. COWLEY, CF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THELAMSON COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTSTERMINAL FOR PNEUMATIC-DISPATCH SYSTEMS Application filed May 2,

This invention pertains to. pneumatic dispatch systems and moreparticularly to a combined dispatch and delivery terminal for such asystem. With the increasing demand in mercantile and otherestablishments for furnishings and decorations of artistic and pleasingappearance,more or less complaint has been made about the obviouslymechanical, unaesthetic, and often untidy appearance of the usualpneumatic terminal structure comprising, as it does, a delivery and adispatch tube, each with a noisy valve or cover, and a basket or otheropen receptacle in which arriving carriers alight with a crash is andwherein the idle carriers are wholly exposed to view. Not only is theusual form of terminal unpleasing in appearance and objectionably noisy,but it also requires considerable space which, in many cases, isextremely valuable'and-badly needed for other purposes. 7

In accordance with my present invention I provide a pneumatic tubeterminal of very simple and compact form, which requires little space,and is of such character that it may readily be concealed in whole or-inpart or, if exposed, finished to present a pleasing appearance. than theusual terminal since arriving carriers are retained within a closedreceptacle until released by the operator; it may, if desired, be builtinto a counter, bench, stack of shelving, or other article; and it doesnot interfere with or delay the dispatching 0i.

carriers.

In the accompanying drawings I have This new terminal is less noisy1928. Serial No. 274,484.

plete terminal with its parts in normal or idle position;

Fig. 5 is a similar section, to smaller scale, showing a carrier in theterminal compartment and the door of the compartment open to permitremoval of the carriers;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the terminal with the-door closed; and

Fig. 7 is a section, substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown one unit of a two-tube pneumaticdispatch system of well-known type having my improved terminal at'theoutlying station thereof. In this view Fig. 1 represents the centralstation of the system having the receiving terminal 2, which may be ofany desired type, but here shown as consistin of a cabinet or box intowhich carriers are elivered. From this box or cabinet the pipe 3 leadsto the usual blower 4 by means of which the desired carrier-im pellingair flow ismaintained in the system. A tube 7 leads from a dispatchterminal 8 at p the central station to the outlying station 6 and fromthe latter station a tube 5 extends to the box 2 at the central station.The above arrangement is in general old and well known. 7 o

I have here shown my improved terminal 9 arranged at the outlyingstation 6. As illustrated in Fig. 2, this terminal 9 may be built into.and form a part of a counter 10 setting upon the floor 11 at theoutlying station and having the upper surface 12 upon which merchandisemay be stacked or placed for exhibition. As shown the terminal 9 has asubstantially flat and smooth upper surface 13 which is flush with thetop 12 of the counter, forming in effectapart of the latter. The frontwall 14 of the terminal is exposed at the rear of the counter in aconvenient position for the reception and delivery of carriers by theclerk stationed at the counter.

In Fig. 3 I-have shown the terminal 9 built into a stack of shelving 15.Thus. arranged the front wall 14 of the terminal may be substantially.flush with the front edges of the shelves, or slightly in advance of orbehind such forward ed es as may be preferred.

In either of t e arrangements shown in,

Figs. 2 and 3 the terminal is readily accessible to the clerk orattendant but at the same time interferes to a minimum extent with theexhibition or'storage of merchandise and is entirely devoid of anobviously mechanical features tending to etract from the artisticappearance of its surroundings. Preferably when disposed in positionssuch as suggested in Figs. 2 and 3, the exposed surfaces of the terminalare finished to resemble the wood or other material of which theassociated structures are built.

Referring more particularly to Figs..4to 7 inclusive, my improvedterminal comprises a receptacle or box of substantially air-tightconstruction. conveniently made of sheet metal and, if desired, havingwalls of soundinsulating material or construction. This box preferablyis of rectangular shape, although it may be made of almost any contourto suit the environment in which it may be placed, and as here showncomprisesthe substantially fiat top wall 13, the front wall 14, the rearwall 16, the bottom wall 17 and the side walls 18 and 19. The bottomwall, as here illustrated, is provided with an opening adjacent to therear wall 16 and the material surrounding the opening is preferablyreinforced by means of a metal ring 20 secured to the bottom 17 by meansof screws or rivets. The delivery end of the tube 7 is fitted within thering 20, being made air tight with respect thereto and securely fixedinposition in any desired and usual manner.

The bottom wall 17 of the terminal box is also furnished with an openingat a point ad ing carriers.

A curved guide plate 23, which may be of.

non-resonant'material, is arranged within the box at the rear of thelatter, extending from a point 23 at the lower part of the wall 16 to apoint 24 in the upper wall 13. This plate 22 may be riveted or'otherwisesecured to the walls 16 and 13, forming a brace for the box and alsoacting to deflect carriers downwardly if they have not substantiallylost their mo-' mentum before engaging this plate.

A carrier support 26 is arranged at the lower part of the box. Thissupport preferably consists of a plate supported upon flange members 27,secured to the side walls 18 and 19 of the box. This plate preferablyinclines downwardly toward the front of the box, the rear end 26. of theplate being spaced from the bottom of the box to permit free entrance ofair beneath it. The plate 26 terminates at the point 28 close to thefront Wall 14 of the box, and is provided with an opening 29 i (Fig. 7)registering with the top of the tube 5, the opening 29- being ofsufiicient size to permit ready introduction of a carrier into the end,of the tube.

A normally open gate 30 is pivotally supported at the point 31and isnormally held in the position shown in Fig. 4 by means of a spring 32.'When this gate is in normal position it leaves the opening 29unobstructed so that a carrier may readily be inserted in the tube 5,but when the gate is swung down to the positionshown in Fig. 5, itrestricts the opening 29 so that a carrier can not accidentally enterthe tube 5.

Preferably, although not necessarily, the gate 30 is provided with anarm 33 carrying one element of a circuit-closing device which isadapted, when the gate is closed, to engage a complemental element 34 ofthe circuit closer. The circuitclosing device is in circuit with asource of electrical energy, for example a battery or power line, andwith a lamp 35 or other suitable signal device conveniently mountedwithin the box and behind the window 36, as indicated in Fig. 4. Thus.when the gate 30 is closed, the electrical circuit is completed and thelamp is lighted, visually indicatingthe arrival of a carrier within thebox as hereinafter more fully described. In place of a visible signalsuchas the lamp 35, an audible signal, for example a bell or buzzer maybe employed, or a whistle actuated by the suction within the box, and itis to be understood that the signal, if used, need not be mounted withinthe box but may be "arranged at any desired and con venient point.

The front wall14' of the box is provided with a large aperture which isnormally and normally tend to close under the action of a spring 39.When closed, the door is held in closed position by the atmosphericpressure acting upon its outer surface. Preferably suitable packingmaterial 40, for example, felt or rubber, extends around the opening toform an air-tight joint with the door.

To facilitate opening the door I provide a handle 41, and if desiredthis'handle may be pivoted at 42 and movable outwardly to a certainextent as determined by a stop 43. The upper end of the handle carries avalve 44 closed by a door 37, hinged at the point 38 normally closingthe small opening 45 in the door. Thus when the handle is grasped toopen therdoor, the handle first swings outwardly, opening the passage 45and to some extent breaking the vacuum within the box,

thereby permitting the door to be opened ly, as shown at C in Fig. 5,and by engagement with the guide 22 is caused to describe an arc in aforward direction and eventually falls onto the support 26 down which itslides toward the front of the box. As it arrives near the front of thebox it engages the gate -30 and depresses the latter, thus covering orpartially covering the opening 29 and preventing the carrier fromaccidentally escaping through said opening. The carrier finally comes torest in a position C of Fig. 5 where it may readily be removed byopening the door 37. After the desired transaction has been completed,the carrier may be returned to the central station by opening the door37 and thrusting the carrier down through the opening 29, it being notedthat normally the '-.press the latter, the signal device is actuated andthus apprises the operator of the arrival ofthe carrier. Such a signaldevice is quite desirable with this type of terminal since the noise ofthe arriving carrier is slight, particularly if the walls of theterminal box be insulated to prevent transmission of sound.

It is clear from the above description that this combined receiving andsending terminal may be made of very compact form and v of almost anydesired external configuration and appearance. It is substantiallynoiseless; it is relatively cheap to construct and install; it is not inany degree unsightly; it does not have the appearance of a machine orother mechanical appliance, and it is extremely convenient for theoperator since the cabinet or box forms a convenient storage for carriesand since the dispatch of carriers requires the manipulation of but asingle door.

While I have shown and described one desirable embodiment of theinvention, I wish it to be understood that various changes in shape,proportion, and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution ofequivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 1. A pneumatic dispatch terminal comprlsing a substantiallyair-tight receptacle having a normally closed door, said receptacleproviding a single chamber having orifices for the reception of apenumatic delivery tube and a pneumatic sending tube.

2. A terminal for a pneumatic system having a delivery and a dispatchtube, said terminal comprising a substantially air-tight sound-insulatedbox having a normally closed door, the box providing a single chamberhaving openings for the reception of the ends of the delivery and thedispatch'tubes,

respectively. I

3. A terminal for pneumatic dispatch systems comprising a substantiallyrectangular box of sheet metal having exposed portions of its outersurface finished to resemble wood, said box providing a single chamberhaving a normally closed door and an opening for the reception of theend of a delivery tube and of a dispatch tube, respectively.

4. A terminal for pneumatic dispatch sys- V tems of the two-tube type,said terminal comprising a substantially air-tight boxhaving a normallyclosed door, the receiving endof the dispatch tube of the system beingdisposed within the box and accessible for introduction of a carrierwhen the door is open, the delivery terminal of the delivery tube alsobeing within the box.

5. A terminal for pneumatic dispatch systems, said terminal comprising asubstantially air-tight box having a smooth and fiat upper surface and anormally closed doorin its side wall, said box having openings for thereception of the ends of'the delivery and dispatch tubes of said system,the receiving end of the dispatch tube being accessible for introductionof a carrier when the door is open.

6. In combination with a store counter,'a pneumatic dispatch terminalcomprising a cabinet having its top flush with the top of the counter,said cabinet having a normally closed door accessible to an operatorstationed behind the counter, said cabinet providing a single chambercontaining the ends of a pneumatic delivery tube and a pneumaticdispatch tube respectively.

7. A terminal for a pneumatic dispatch system of the two-tube type, saidterminal comprising a substantially air-tight-box having a singlechamber provided with openings for the reception of the delivery end ofone tube and the receiving end of the-other tube, a normally closed doorfor the box, and means for guiding arriving adjacent to said door.

8. A terminal for pneumatic dispatch systems of the two-tube type, saidterminal comca'rriers to a position tems comprising a su stantiallyrectangular other opening for the reception of the delivery end of theother tube, and carriersupporting means within the box, said supportingmeans inclining downwardly towar the door. I

9. A terminal for )n'eumatic dispatch sysbox, the delivery tube of thesystem opening upwardly into lower part of the box, a curved deflect-orwithin the box for engagement by carriers discharged upwardly by thedeliverytube, a support upon which arriving car riers come to rest, anda normally closed door giving access to the interior of the box,

the dispatch tube of the system opening.

downwardly from the interior of the boxat a point adjacent to the door.

10. A terminal for pneumatic dispatch systems of the twotube type, saidterminal comprising a substantially air-tight box having a normallyclosed door, the delivery end of one tube of the system entering the boxat a point remote from the door and the dispatch end of the'otlier tubeentering the box ,ad-

jac ent to the door, carrier-supporting means within the box, saidsupporting means hav ing an opening registering with the end of enteringthe dispatch tube.

11. Aterminal for pneumatic dispatch systems comprising a substantiallyair-tight box having a normally closed door, said box having openingsfor the reception of the ends of delivery and dispatch tubes,respectively,

and means to prevent carriers, arriving through the delivery tube fromaccidentally entering the dispatch tube.

12. A terminal for pneumatic dispatch systems comprising a substantiallyair-tight box having a normally closed door, said box having openingsfor the reception of the ends of delivery and dispatch tubes,respectively,

and a normally open gate adapted, when engaged by a carrier in the box,to move across the entrance of the dispatch tube-and thereby preventaccidental entry of the carrier into said tube.

13. A terminal for pneumatic dispatch svstems comprising a substantiallyair-tight systems, said terminal comprising a substantially air-tightbox having a normally closed door, said box containing the ends of thedelivery and dispatch tubes respectively of the system, and a gate toprevent an arriving carrier from accidentally entering the dispatchltube, theparts being so constructed and arranged that closure of thegate does not prevent free passage of air from the box into the dispatchtube.

15. A terminal for pneumatic dispatch sys- 1 tems comprising asubstantially air-tight box having a normally closed door, said boxcontaining the ends of the delivery and dispatch tubes of the system,the end of the dispatch tubes being adjacent to the door, a carriersupport within the box, said support inclining downwardly toward thebottom of the door and having an opening registering with the end of thedispatch tube, and a pivoted gate for preventing carriers which movedown along said support from passing through the'opening into thedispatch tube.

'16. A terminal for a pneumatic system having a delivery and a dispatchtube, said terminal comprising a substantially air-tight sound-insulatedbox having a normally closed door, the box having openings for thereception of the ends of the delivery and the dispatchtubes,respectively, and means for signaling thearrival of a carrier inthe box.

17. A terminal forpneumatic dispatch sys tems comprising a substantiallyair-tight box having :a, normally closed door, said box having openingsfor the reception of the ends of the delivery and dispatch tubes,respective'ly, of the system, a pivoted gatedisposed in the pathofcarriers arriving in the box,

said gate swinging under contact with a carrier to a position in whichit guards the entrance to the dispatch tube, and signal meansresponsive'to such movement of the gate.

18. A terminal for pneumatic dispatch systems, said terminal comprisinga substantially air-tight box having a normallyclosed door, said boxproviding a single chamber which contains the ends of the delivery anddispatch tubes respectively of the system, the parts be- I 'ing soconstructed and arranged as to provide free passage of air from the boxinto the dispatch tube regardless of the number of carriers storedwithin the box.

19. A terminal for pneumatic dispatch systems, said terminal comprisinga substantial: 1y air-tight box having a normally closed door, said boxcontaining the ends of the delivery and dispatch tubes respectively ofthe system, acarrier support within the box, said support being spacedabove the intake end of the dispatch tube to provide freeentry of airinto the latter at all times.

- 20. A terminal for a carrier dispatch system comprising a housingproviding a nor- .mally closed chamber, a door giving access to thechamber, a tube for delivering carriers into said chamber, a downwardlyyieldable support within the chamber adjacent the mouth of the tube, andmeans located in the chamber for guiding an arriving carrier onto saidsupport.

21. A terminal for a carrier dispatch system comprising a housingproviding a normally closed chamber, a door giving access to thechamber, a tube for delivering carriers into said chamber, and means forsignaling the arrival of a carrier in the chamber comprising a supporton which the carrier in the chamber rests which support yieldsdownwardly from its normal position under the weight of an arrivingcarrier.

22. A terminal for a carrier dispatch system comprising a housingproviding a substantially air-tight chamber, a carrier delivery tubearranged to deliver carriers into said chamber, signal means forindicating the presence of a carrier in the chamber, said signal meanscomprising a carrier support and a detector element movable byengagement with a carrier on the support, and guide means within thechamber for directing an arriving carrier to the support upon which itengages the detector element.

23. A terminal for a pneumatic dispatch system comprising a housingproviding a substantially air-tight chamber, a door in the housinggiving access to the chamber, means for signaling the arrival of acarrier in the chamber, said signaling means comprising a detectordisposed within the chamber and movable by engagement of a carriertherewith, a tube arranged to deliver carriers into the chamber, meansfor guiding arriving carriers into engagement with the detector, and adispatch tube opening into the chamber below the detector and which atall times is in free communication with the chamber.

24. A terminal for a pneumatic dispatch system comprising a housingproviding a single substantially air-tight chamber, a normally closeddoor giving access to the chamher, a delivery tube arranged to dischargecarriers into the chamber, and a dispatch tube freely communicating withthe chamber, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the fullair current circulating in the system passes through the chamber.

25. A terminal for a pneumatic dispatch system comprising a housingproviding a single normally closed chamber, a door in the housing givingaccess to the chamber, a pneumatic tube entering the housing, said tubebeing arranged to deliver carriers into the chamber, and a dispatch tubehaving free communication at all times with said chamber, the chamberconstituting an essential portion of the air circuit through the system.

26. A terminal for pneumatic dispatch systems comprising a cabinet, saidcabinet pro viding a single substantially air-tight receiving chamberand having a normally closed door giving access to said chamber, and adelivery tube and a dispatch tube each entering the cabinet and eachcommunicating with the chamber, the latter constituting a connectionbetween the tubes through which the circulating air currents pass fromone tube to the other.

27. A terminal for a pneumatic dispatch system comprising a housingproviding a single substantially air-tight chamber, a door in thehousing giving access to the chamber, a delivery tube arranged todeliver carriers in an upward direction into the chamber, curveddeflector means within the chamber engageable by carriers entering thechamber and ar ranged to direct carriers to a point adjacent to thedoor, and a dispatch tube communicating freely wit-h the chamber.

igned by me at Syracuse, New York, this 27th day of April 1928.

JAMES T. COWLEY.

DISCLAIM ER 1,769,676.James T. Cowley, Syracuse, N. Y. TERMINAL FORPNEUMATIC-DISPATCH SYSTEMS. Patent dated July 1, 1930. Disclaimer filedJune 19, 1936, by the assignee, The Lamson Company. Hereby enters thisdisclaimer to claims 1, 4, and 21 of the specification.

[Ofiieial Gazette July 7, 1936.]

